I've written up several times explaining why I feel SSOL (as a piece of game theory n strategy) rapes every other strategy/style in the league, and what SSOL really means.
This is to clarify what it means for the reality of our team, and what our future will (or at least should) look like, in dealing with the invariable drawbacks of any strategy.
If you have a perpetual hard-on for powerful, lumbering defensive juggernaut players and teams...SSOL means Shit Son, Outta Luck. Likely everything you want to change won't unless D'ant is fired and Walsh changes direction or keels over while making it rain at Scores.
We want to actually focus more and more on scoring more and more, and adding --or at least keeping -- our run and gun tempo and ability.
Points scored is just as valuable as points you don't allow. There's an emotional nostalgia that makes us pine for defense, a notion of being balanced.
Setting aside flaws and fault for a moment, the main reason we are as good and dangerous and respected as we are right now is because of our offense, and it's specific ability to smother opposing teams w tempo and take them out of their comfort zone.
People talk about D'ant and "unconventional"; that's an excellent thing. Excellence and greatness is unconventional. That which transcends mediocrity and defies expectations is unconventional. Our winning record and status as a dangerous team is unconventional; unexpected; extra-ordinary.
Our signature unconventionality is our ace up the sleeve, and source of power. The flaws we have (defense, size, depth) and getting them improved aren't mutually exclusive with keeping with the spirit of our offense and what we loosely refer to as SSOL.
When you have Kareem's skybar hook, Adam Dunn's power stroke, etc etc, you make your weapon as lethal as it can be, and surround it with complimentary additions to round you out, and fortify your centerpiece and piece de resistance.
Same for us. What we actually need is an ultimate SSOL Starting Five, to then be surrounded by the ultimate complimentary pieces. This isn't just the simplest thing and most feasible, but the best.
Melo and Mayo is a golden ticket. And using every draft pick and dollar we have left to get 1trick pony defensive stoppers and backup bigs w size (Glen Davis, Deandre Jordan eg).
Felton
Mayo
Gallo
Melo
STAT
6th Williams
bench Douglas, Turiaf, Glen Davis, Moz, Jerome Jordan + our draft picks
D'ant will use a bench most effectively when it most effectively aids our (winning) strategy. Very simple but ruthlessly effective role players who are coachable and know what they are here to do.
Is D'ant sacrificing battles for what he deems as a soon to be won war? Likely.
When we mention balance and making improvement, we actually need it more as a priority on offense than defense. Our O isn't nearly as good as it seems, as our D isn't nearly as bad.
If 'SSOL' is this effective now, imagine a starting 5 that truly maxes it and let's STAT (and everyone else) beast on even greater levels. We went into the season with tons of question marks and holes; this was Year 1 of our rebuild, after finally napalming Isiah Thomas' work.
Mayo and Gallo, Melo and STAT, with Felton facilitating would honestly be unstoppable, with another ~.400 3pt shooter as our 6th, and a bench filled with size and hustle and defensive specialties.
Our problems aren't systemic but almost entirely situational. The latter you fix w role players whose team value exceeds the relatively meager contracts they get. Another bonus of going against the grain and status quo with SSOL -- bargain shopping and getting steals and value is much more ripe. The opportunities are naturally there when your needs differ in degree than the average team.
The inverse is true too -- certain players with a given market value will be 'overpaid'/under-perform for us.
This is to clarify what it means for the reality of our team, and what our future will (or at least should) look like, in dealing with the invariable drawbacks of any strategy.
If you have a perpetual hard-on for powerful, lumbering defensive juggernaut players and teams...SSOL means Shit Son, Outta Luck. Likely everything you want to change won't unless D'ant is fired and Walsh changes direction or keels over while making it rain at Scores.
We want to actually focus more and more on scoring more and more, and adding --or at least keeping -- our run and gun tempo and ability.
Points scored is just as valuable as points you don't allow. There's an emotional nostalgia that makes us pine for defense, a notion of being balanced.
Setting aside flaws and fault for a moment, the main reason we are as good and dangerous and respected as we are right now is because of our offense, and it's specific ability to smother opposing teams w tempo and take them out of their comfort zone.
People talk about D'ant and "unconventional"; that's an excellent thing. Excellence and greatness is unconventional. That which transcends mediocrity and defies expectations is unconventional. Our winning record and status as a dangerous team is unconventional; unexpected; extra-ordinary.
Our signature unconventionality is our ace up the sleeve, and source of power. The flaws we have (defense, size, depth) and getting them improved aren't mutually exclusive with keeping with the spirit of our offense and what we loosely refer to as SSOL.
When you have Kareem's skybar hook, Adam Dunn's power stroke, etc etc, you make your weapon as lethal as it can be, and surround it with complimentary additions to round you out, and fortify your centerpiece and piece de resistance.
Same for us. What we actually need is an ultimate SSOL Starting Five, to then be surrounded by the ultimate complimentary pieces. This isn't just the simplest thing and most feasible, but the best.
Melo and Mayo is a golden ticket. And using every draft pick and dollar we have left to get 1trick pony defensive stoppers and backup bigs w size (Glen Davis, Deandre Jordan eg).
Felton
Mayo
Gallo
Melo
STAT
6th Williams
bench Douglas, Turiaf, Glen Davis, Moz, Jerome Jordan + our draft picks
D'ant will use a bench most effectively when it most effectively aids our (winning) strategy. Very simple but ruthlessly effective role players who are coachable and know what they are here to do.
Is D'ant sacrificing battles for what he deems as a soon to be won war? Likely.
When we mention balance and making improvement, we actually need it more as a priority on offense than defense. Our O isn't nearly as good as it seems, as our D isn't nearly as bad.
If 'SSOL' is this effective now, imagine a starting 5 that truly maxes it and let's STAT (and everyone else) beast on even greater levels. We went into the season with tons of question marks and holes; this was Year 1 of our rebuild, after finally napalming Isiah Thomas' work.
Mayo and Gallo, Melo and STAT, with Felton facilitating would honestly be unstoppable, with another ~.400 3pt shooter as our 6th, and a bench filled with size and hustle and defensive specialties.
Our problems aren't systemic but almost entirely situational. The latter you fix w role players whose team value exceeds the relatively meager contracts they get. Another bonus of going against the grain and status quo with SSOL -- bargain shopping and getting steals and value is much more ripe. The opportunities are naturally there when your needs differ in degree than the average team.
The inverse is true too -- certain players with a given market value will be 'overpaid'/under-perform for us.
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